KL International Marathon 2007

The Decision:

Few days before CNY, my brother Kenny announced he had been diagnosed with hypertension with a reading of 210/110. He is the 4th member in our family to inherit this silent disease.

2 years ago, based on my family’s medical history a GP cautioned there is a high possibility I may develop this disorder later in life. His prognosis proved true for Kenny. I now remain the last member of the family to face this genetic prophecy.

With that thought, I made up my mind to register for the KLIM Full Marathon. Actually, it was the heart that made the decision.

Preparation:

The single most important training, which I dread most, is the Long Run. After GE30k race, I managed to squeeze a 17km and 19km run during CNY.
While relatives were busy gambling into the wee hours in the morning, I slept early to get up early next morning to run.

I did a few shorter distances: 12km, 10km, jungle trail, hill-hiking and light gym workout. During working days I continued the daily morning exercise of climbing 4 flights of stairs. I kept my legs moving, tiring them constantly without subjecting them to injury.

A week before the race I slowly taper off.
4 days before the race, I completely stopped running to rest the legs.
2 days before the race I ensured I get adequate sleep of at least 9 hours per day. Avoided oily food and tea/coffee (otherwise I will sleep less because of the caffeine).
On the eve, I minimize walking to preserve the glycogen in my legs.

Pre-race jitters

Despite all the counter measures, I was still very nervous going into the starting line. I knew the LSD was simply not enough. I could still back out and opt for the shorter 21km or 10km distance since I had the spare bibs. But I have never back out in a race that I have registered. I had to appease the soul.

A Plan

As a teenager I remember reading a chess book that says, “A plan is better than no plan”. Analyzing my GE30k race data, I predict I could probably reach the 30km mark in 4 hours. That leaves a balance of 2 hours to cover the remaining 12kms, which translates to a 10min/km pace.
Possibility:
1st 10kms - 1:15 hrs;
2nd 10kms - 1:20 hrs;
3rd 10kms - 1:25 hrs;
Next 6kms- 1hr;
Last 6kms - 1 hr.
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Total 42kms = 6 hrs.
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This will just be a plan. I kept in mind I should not pressure myself into meeting the checkpoints if the body cannot sustain it.


Race Day

I had a strange dream when the alarm clock rang at 2:40 a.m. I dreamt I was with an old good friend discussing a crisis. Breakfast is pretty much the same: Powerbar, skim milk with light cereals, banana, Cordyceps, multivits and spirulina. Wore my faithful Mizuno Precision 5 and BUM socks. Over the 3 years of running, I have purchased 16 pairs of the same kind of socks.
Mee Peng insisted I wear her amulet for safety.

Survival kit
3 packs of Deep Heat, 1 Powerbar, 2 packs of PowerGel, 1 mini chocolate bar, 2 ringgit and 500ml Gatorade.







Before leaving the house, out of curiosity of my anxiety, I quickly strapped myself to measure the BP.
It read 157/92!
No turning back now!

An Experiment ahead

I arrived at Dataran 4:10 a.m. Decided not to carry the hand phone as an SOS device. The limited mobile toilet queue was as usual long. I was not going to wait, went down the ramp that leads to Sg. Gombak and contributed the flow of the river.

Met the experienced Marathon veterans TM Wong and Choi who reassured me to be calm and run at my own pace as everybody’s speed is different. Tey, the running cameraman took a photo of us. He was carrying an armada of foodstuff in his pouch. It is always inspirational to meet this bubbly man.

4:30 a.m

I started my stopwatch as soon as the gun went off. It took less than 60 secs to cross the magnetized starting mat. Chat with Dinesh and soon he and Tey took off. Everybody seems to be taking their time unlike in a 10 or 21km race. I carried half a bottle of Gatorade in my hand.

Somewhere at km-4, a runner came up to me to pass a PowerGel, which I’ve unknowingly dropped from my back pocket. Thanks to him else I will be short of fuel!

The DBKL water-tanker that was stationed at the sponging stations was a good hideout for a leak.

After km-8, I felt warmed up and had an urge to increase pace but abstained. That soon changed, as the 10-km mat seems nowhere where it should be last year. I speed up just a little bit. Finally the 10km signboard appeared followed by the mat. I clocked 1:18:40. Slurped a Powergel and drank my Gatorade.

Dump the bottle @ km-12 after finishing the last drop. Felt lighter with the bottle gone. I have never drunk 100 Plus during a race because of the gas. This has to change and I’ve trained to stomach it since drinking water alone may not be wise as it can lead to hyponatremia (low salt levels in the blood), a condition caused by over-hydration of water.

I ripped open the Deep Heat sachet and rubbed its contents to both my legs. It feels good. No contractions as experienced in GE30k. I have practiced this maneuver during training. Stuck with the rule of not trying anything new.

Though it was still early morning with no sun, the weather was humid.
I ran past a bus stop of 30 over people who looked like they just got out of bed. None cheered.
Further down the road, I was “awaken” by a Pan-Asian lady in her 20s, who after getting down from the overhead bridge, started clapping and cheering loudly non-stop. She was the only person cheering after more than 2 hours of running. She could be a runner herself. I smiled and waved to thank her for the support.

Km 20

Reached the second 10km checkpoint with a split time of 1:16:57. Total time 2:35:37. To my delight, I felt fresh and was within targeted time. Had this been a half-marathon race, I would have max out. The slower pace certainly helped.

Running below the flyover joining back Jln Tun Razak I suddenly had a moment of insanity and yelled to myself “I am going to nail this bugger!”
2nd gel consumed and Deep Heat applied. Like a battling WWII soldier I kept 2 packs of Deep Heat inside my socks!

At Jln Bukit Bintang we joined the scores of half-marathoners and 10kmers. Almost everybody whizzed past me. I maintained pace. Somewhere in Concorde Hotel a familiar voice greeted me, it was sifu Jamie! He gave me a thumbs up and sped off before I could think of something inspirational to say. This is the MAN who got me into distance running. If not because of his constant influence I would not be in this race today!

Just before the TAR junction a runner asked, “What are you doing here?” it was Kenneth Teh jesting as he ran past while I was taking a walk drink break. He is about to finish I have another 18 kms to go.

Shortly after Pertama Complex @ Jalan Raja Laut, a voice shouted from behind “Wah Cheong! You so terror one ah! “. It was Tey! I thought he was way ahead. Tey offered me a Powerbar but I politely decline. Looking at the time and distance, he advised me to hasten the pace so as not to “kan-chiong” (hurry) towards the end. It was a valuable tip. Tey was carrying an old injury, which hampered his normal pace. He introduced me to his 2 girl friends both donning the new white Nike Plus vest.

Picture courtesy of Tey Eng Tiong

Observed there were several “working ladies” hanging at the Rumah Tumpangan (Budget Hotel) doorway. Didn’t know they start work so early in the morning.

The Powergel Enigma

Just to strike a conversation, at Jalan Raja Muda I asked a Sikh runner if Powergel is distributed @ km-30 of which he replied no and instead offered me his Powergel. Despite my reluctance he insisted to the point of forcing, that I accept the gel. In the end out of obligation I took it so as not to offend him! He told me it is his 2nd KLIM Marathon attempt, he did not finish the one last year. (Later I found out he completed this race – Well done Mr.Singh!)

No worries – enough drinks to feed a battalion.

My left knee began to give me trouble; the femur seems to be bone rubbing beneath the left lower corner of the kneecap. The discomfort was bearable and not aggravating. I had this same symptom in the GE30k.

Km 30

Powergel was indeed served near the Jln Tun Razak junction. I ran up to Mr. Singh to return his gel but he was adamant that I keep it. The sun was up. I splashed as much water on my face and arms to offset the heat.

The fact that runners did not have to go up the 2 flyovers over at Jln Pahang and Jln Ipoh respectively save us the ascend and exposure to the sun.

Jln Ipoh

The policeman ignored my presence and allowed the traffic to resume at the Jln Ipoh – Jln Tun Razak intersection. I in turn ignored him and walk right into the passing vehicles with my hand raised. Upon seeing this, the policeman quickly re-stopped the vehicles to let me through safely. Runners first please, thank you.

Immediately after crossing the busy Jln Ipoh, opposite Maxwell school, a flashing ambulance slowed down and in front was Dinesh seated on the pavement with 2 runners pulling him up. He appears to be suffering from cramps. I clutched him from behind to help. His determination and courage pulled him through in the end – a heroic feat.

9 km Countdown

After PWTC there was the 9km signboard, which means I have covered 33kms. Time: 4:31:16. The Jalan Mahameru slopes are gradual. Luckily the sunrays were on the opposite side of the road. A few runners spoke to me in Mandarin. One said it is not possible to finish within qualifying time by just walking all the way. “Tway” I agreed with my limited Mandarin.

The Camaraderie effect

At this stage I developed a tendency to befriend strangers many of whom I have exchanged leads. This is something I don’t do in half-marathons. Many of us can hardly sustain a run and the walk breaks turn into short introductory talk break. Indeed the Marathon humbled me.

“Just another few kms to go”. “How many marathons have you run?” I asked engaging in small talk. None of them told me it was their first. One told me it was his 14th.

Soon I was alone, turning into Jln Duta under the flyover I took out the 4th gel which was given to me by Mr.Singh, ate 1/3 of it and threw the rest away as I didn’t like the Tangerine flavour and the overkill 2X caffeine. The gels all had caffeine which is something I don’t cherish taking too much to enhance performance or alertness. My pocket is now left with damped 2-ringgit, a 20 sen coin and a melted mini-Cadbury bar.

Almost there

I made the U-turn at the Jln Semantan flyover to face the final kms.

Perhaps it was the oxygen depletion because I find myself forgetting the names of runners a few minutes after being introduced.
A tanned, well-built senior veteran runner whom I made friends earlier ran past me and said “Common Yong”.
I was not the only one with amnesia.

I remember Ben told me of the uphill ahead leading to Jalan Sultan Salahuddin, which can be daunting. True enough with the sun shining on me I toiled the incline with little speed, trudging for cover under the shades of trees.

After a long gradual uphill passing the Kementerian Pertainian, the magical 40km signboard appeared next to a water station. I have persevered this far and there was a sense of accomplishment.

Last 2 kms with 2 Pacers

Heading towards Bank Negara, it was downhill all the way. I met Mr.Tan Choon Kok from Penang, a senior veteran runner. Mr. Tan asked me to pace together to the finish. He said this was his 7th Marathon. Approaching the BNM downhill I had to drop off due to legs stiffing.

Another familiar looking senior veteran runner came up and I immediately recognize him from last year’s Klang Brooks Bonding Run. He was also the person who helped Dinesh earlier. We shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. He is Lim Tow Suan from the Klang Pacesetters group. Lim said his right arm especially the fingers were numb and attributed it to poor blood circulation. I told him I had the same problem with my left arm a few years ago but with running it improved but not totally recovered.

Lim asked me to jog with him. We chatted and after the Jln Parlimen roundabout I turn on all my reserves. Ran past Mr.Tan. Despite a few hundred meters from the finish line, I had to break for a walk.

At this juncture, I saw somebody waving to me to move forward. It was Choi whom I mistook as Jamie at first, shouted my name. I smiled and ran. I heard more people calling my name and clapping. It was the Pacemaker group who stayed back to cheer for the last men. Captain Ronnie and Rohaizad position their cameras to snap photos. Thanks guys.

Choi giving a high 5.

I was rather flattered by the attention.

Official time :5:54:48.
Net time : 5:53:50

I did it!

Mee Peng grinned with relief that I made this one alive, again. She said a Caucasian whom she aquainted, he too cheered “Good job!”

Mr. and Mrs Tan from Penang. He invited me to run the Penang
Marathon. Next year perhaps? Right photo: Rohaizad and Dinesh.

While driving and resting at home; Kenny, Newton, Jo Ee, Ganesh, Jamie and Ben called/SMS. Thank you fellows for your concern and compliments.

Perhaps the marathon is designed to relate life is not meant to be easy for every journey there is a story. Whatever the outcome it tells something about oneself. It didn’t tell me I was great, it told me about friendship, good friends and people who cared. Now that is great.

What about the BP?

After a cold shower, I once again strapped myself to check the blood pressure and to my astonishment, it read 114/69!
Perfectly normal.
Certainly it was the most heartwarming outcome of my maiden marathon.
The mystery of experiencing the Marathon has been unraveled.